Winter Park Turns Thumbs Down On 2 Restaurants

WINTER PARK — The city commission has denied requests to allow a new restaurant and expand another one downtown.

In both cases the commission expressed concern that the establishments would worsen downtown parking problems.

The first request, for a conditional-use permit to open a 30-seat sandwich shop at 133 E. Morse Blvd., was favored only by Mayor Hope Strong Jr., who said he did not see much difference between it and the ice cream shop across the street from the restaurant site.

The planning and zoning commission, which discussed the request June 3, had split its vote 2 to 2 on whether to allow the restaurant. As a result, it sent no recommendation to the city commission.

The commission agreed with city planner Jeff Briggs that the main issue was whether there was enough parking for the restaurant. The applicants, Gus and Linda Maltabes, said the business would generate little vehicle traffic because they think most customers would come from downtown offices.

Commissioner David Currie said there is no guarantee that, if approved, the sandwich shop might not be sold later and changed to attract more vehicle traffic.

Several people told the commission Tuesday that they opposed the restaurant. Dr. Jack Wilkins, a dentist with an office at 155 E. Morse Blvd., said parking is so bad that he has to have tow trucks remove cars that block his driveway.

Renata de Jara, owner of a jewelry store at 160 S. Park Ave., said customers and people making deliveries often have to circle the block several times to find parking. De Jara said they sometimes end up double parking.

Commissioners told the Maltabes, who had owned the Athena and Golden Greek restaurants, that they did not oppose the type of business the restaurateurs planned to open.

Denial of the permit request means it will be one year before another similar request can be made to the city about the same property, Briggs said. Four of five city commissioners would have to approve waiving that time limit. The second conditional-use request failed to pass when the commission split its vote. Commissioner David Johnston was absent. The request was to merge the 92-seat Le Royal Continental Restaurant at 520 S. Park Ave. with the 54-seat Cafe de France at 526 S. Park Ave. and remodel the first restaurant to add another 54 seats.

Faced with the prospect of having a 200-seat restaurant open during lunchtime, Briggs suggested a compromise that would have allowed only the 146- seat Le Royal Continental to be used for lunch. That amount is the current combined seating of the two restaurants. The compromise was recommended by the planning board but the city commission had other concerns.

Told by Briggs that the 200-seat restaurant would be automatically eligible for a full state liquor license, Commissioner Tom Ivey said he believes there are ''enough bars on Park Avenue'' and the expanded liquor selection would attract more customers.

Briggs said the request will likely be on the agenda at the commission's June 24 meeting, when all four commissioners and the mayor are expected to be present.